Comeback after 811 days: World Cup winner returns from doping ban

On September 3, 2023, Paul Pogba last appeared in an official competitive match—back then still for Juventus. After a long doping ban, his comeback had been announced several times but was repeatedly postponed due to his fitness condition.

Today, in the clash between AS Monaco and Stade Rennes, the moment finally arrived. In the 85th minute, the 2018 World Cup winner was substituted in.

These are also his first minutes of play for a club in his home country. For the first time since his professional debut in 2011, Pogba is playing in Ligue 1. Sporting success, however, was not in the cards for him with the Monegasques today. The club from the principality lost the match 1:4.

For Pogba himself, though, it was the first step on the road back to his old form, in which he once became world champion with France. The dream of a comeback in the French national team no longer seems completely out of reach. Many experts had considered that almost impossible last year.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 LOU BENOIST - AFP or licensors